Anthony Bowens thanks AEW fans for letting him ‘live out his wrestling dream’

  • Ian Carey
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Anthony Bowens has penned a column for the Player’s Tribune thanking AEW fans for the support they have given The Acclaimed.  

Bowens began the post by mentioning that he originally intended to write a letter to his younger self. However, he eventually realized the letter wouldn’t make sense as “wrestling is insane.“

Bowens’ attempt at writing such a letter reads:

Dear 7-year-old Anthony,

O.K. — in 1999 Billy Gunn is going to leave DX and change his name to “Mr. Ass” Billy Gunn, which will start as this ironic play on the name “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn but will eventually become a gimmick about his literal ass. Twenty years later, a nice but evil demon will call Billy’s two sons “The Ass Boys” and you’ll (you’re a professional wrestler now) start referring to Billy (he’s 59 now) as “Daddy Ass.” After that, the three Gunns will partner with The Acclaimed, a tag team you’re in with Max Caster, this amazing rapper. You and Max will have a signature handshake where you’ll scissor each other’s fingers, which is a nod both to the “A” in Acclaimed and to your own queerness. One night on live TV, you’ll turn to Billy and scream, “SCISSOR ME, DADDY ASS!!!!” People will love it and your life will never be the same.

Good luck with everything, see you in 25 years.

—32-year-old Anthony

Instead, Bowens focused on thanking AEW fans for the support they have given The Acclaimed. In particular, Bowens is grateful for wrestling fans allowing him “to succeed in wrestling as a Black gay man while still being me.”

The 32-year-old continued to mention challenges he faced early in his career, including struggling with his promo work.

Bowens wrote:

if you know our business, you know that cutting a promo is more complicated than just “being a good public speaker” or whatever. It’s deeper than just acting, too. Not only are you giving a speech and building a character, you’re also trying to connect on a human level. It’s like you’re amplifying some part of yourself. And in order to amplify yourself, first you kind of have to know yourself. You have to be comfortable in your own skin. And I just wasn’t.

Bowens says his challenges with promos were evident when he attended a WWE tryout in 2014. 

I remember William Regal telling me I had “four out of five” traits they’re looking for in a prospect. The only trait where I was falling short was “personality.”

He eventually concluded that so long as he was not open with his sexuality, he would never be able to tap into the “personality” he needed to be successful. 

I think I knew the truth: As long as I was closeted as a wrestler, I wasn’t going to reach my full potential. Because I wasn’t going to be able to tap into everything that makes me me.

Bowens recalled the support he received when he came out as well. 

I got so much support when I came out. But I also didn’t just want to be known as “the wrestler who came out,” or “the gay wrestler.” I wanted to be known as this successful wrestler … who happens to be gay and out and proud. And the history of wrestling (and sports in general) isn’t exactly filled with people who’ve been able to have that.

Finally, Bowens concluded the letter with a message of gratitude for AEW fans.

Thanks for giving us a chance / sticking with us through the pandemic / going crazy for Max’s bars / scissoring until your fingers bleed / singing “OHHHHHH SCISSOR ME DADDYYYY” / buying foam fingers / hating Billy’s sons so much that he decided he’d rather spend time with us.

Thanks for letting a queer Black kid from New Jersey live out his wrestling dream.

Thanks for coming to this party just as you are.

We’re glad you’re here.

Bowens’ full letter can be read here.